A Baby For The Minister

She went over and over her grocery list in her head, trying to decide which items were absolute necessities and which she could find a way to do without. She had to stretch her tiny amount of cash as far as she could.

In spite of her worries, she perked up when they reached the city limits sign, craning her neck as she peered through the smudged windshield. She’d fallen in love with the town of Pine Valley the minute she’d seen it.

This place had such a peaceful, unrushed air about it. And it was so pretty, too. A rosy brick courthouse sat proudly in the middle of a grassy square, ringed by old-fashioned stores advertising various kinds of businesses: a barbershop, a hardware store and a bookstore. Most of them had Sorry, We’re Closed signs in their windows. People in Pine Valley apparently took their Sunday rest seriously.

She expected Jacob to drive past the square, figuring there was probably a chain supermarket on the outskirts of town. Instead, he parked in front of a small storefront with bright green-and-white-striped awnings over its windows. Bailey’s was written in flowing white script across the sparkling glass of the door. Through the wide windows, Natalie saw baskets of produce, invitingly angled to show off the vegetables and fruits to potential customers.

This was no supermarket. This was some sort of fancy food boutique that looked as if it might have a surcharge for just walking in the door. No way could she afford to shop in a place like this.

“Here we are.” Jacob pulled his keys from the ignition. “You’ll love this store. Bailey’s always has the best stuff in town.”

Maybe, but she didn’t need the best stuff in town. She needed the cheapest stuff in town. Before she could figure out the least humiliating way to explain that, Jacob had rounded the truck and was opening the passenger side door.

“I only need a few things,” she said quickly, “so this won’t take long.”

“I’m in no hurry. Here now, watch that curb.” He cupped her elbow, steadying her as she stepped up onto the sidewalk.

The touch was light and brief, but she felt it all the way to her toes. Adam would never have thought about doing anything like that. He’d always bounded ahead of her like an overexcited puppy.

Not Jacob. Jacob made her feel...treasured. Nobody had ever made her feel like that before. That was why she’d embarrassed herself by crying on the porch yesterday, when he’d insisted on checking the boards and steadying her arm. She’d forgotten for a moment that Jacob was a minister, that he was just doing his job.